Deck 22: Human Microbiome

Question 1

The chief inhabitant of the human microbiome are ____________________.

Answer 1

bacteria

Question 2

Knowing that antibiotics such as penicillin work by attacking the peptidoglycan in the bacterial cell wall, which type of bacteria would be most susceptible to the administration of such an antibiotic?

A) Gram-positive bacteria
B) Gram-negative bacteria
C) Either gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria
D) Neither gram-positive nor gram-negative bacteria

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which characteristic of bacteria permits them to develop antibiotic resistance?

A) They have a cell wall composed of a polysaccharide molecule called peptidoglycan.
B) Some species of bacteria are surrounded by a gelatinous covering called a capsule.
C) Bacteria lack a membrane-enclosed nucleus.
D) Bacteria contain small loops of DNA called plasmids which can transfer from one cell to another.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following is the most common way that a person's microbiome becomes disrupted?

A) Viral illness
B) Bacterial illness
C) Antibiotic use
D) Food allergies

Question 5

Applying what you know about bacterial structures, what can you conclude about bacteria that have a capsule?

A) They stick to surfaces more readily.
B) They are more likely to cause disease.
C) They can move rapidly throughout the body.
D) They are more likely to be beneficial to the microbiome.

Question 6

The main finding of the Human Microbiome Project was that

A) everyone has essentially the same types of microorganisms residing in their bodies.
B) healthy adults should be free from viruses and bacteria.
C) bacterial cells far outnumber human cells in healthy adults.
D) bacteria cannot reproduce unless inside a host cell.

Question 7

What is the human microbiome?

A) All of the organ systems of the body
B) The community of microbes living within healthy people
C) The community of microbes known to cause disease
D) The environment in which we live

Question 8

What is the purpose of the capsule in bacteria?

A) It gives the cell its shape.
B) It regulates the flow of materials into and out of the cell.
C) It keeps the bacteria from drying out.
D) It synthesizes proteins.

Question 9

Microorganisms known to cause disease are called

A) invaders.
B) pathogens.
C) bacteriophages.
D) capsids.

Question 10

Based on what you know about the microbiome, which of the following statements is most accurate?

A) Once established, a person's microbiome is stable throughout life.
B) Certain familial diseases that appear to be genetic may actually result from bacterial genes as opposed to human genes.
C) Periodically taking antibiotics may help the microbiome grow stronger by killing off harmful bacteria and allowing beneficial bacteria to proliferate.
D) Frequent use of antibacterial cleansers should become a priority so as to minimize exposure to harmful bacteria.

Question 11

What is the shape and configuration of staphylococci bacteria?

A) Round bacteria that exist in chain form.
B) Rod-shaped bacteria that occur in clusters.
C) Spiral-shaped bacteria that occur singly.
D) Round bacteria that occur in clusters.

Question 12

Why do fungal infections often begin on the skin or in the lungs?

A) Because some fungi reproduce through tiny spores in the air
B) Because these areas are relatively free of beneficial bacteria to combat infection.
C) Because antibiotic use disrupts the microbiomes in these areas first
D) Because many varieties of fungi exist in water

Question 13

Rod-shaped bacteria are called ____________________.

Question 14

Some viruses have a spikey lipid outer membrane called a(an) ____________________.

Question 15

Spiral-shaped bacteria are called ____________________.

Question 16

Which of the following statements about viruses is most accurate?

A) Viruses can reproduce rapidly on surfaces outside the body.
B) Viruses contain no DNA or RNA of their own; therefore, they must enter a host cell to obtain a nucleic acid.
C) Viruses are simply a bundle of genetic material surrounded by a protein shell.
D) Viruses are complex structures having sophisticated metabolic processes, which is why viral infections can be difficult to treat.

Question 17

When do children begin to build their microbiomes?

A) At conception
B) During development within the womb
C) During the birth process
D) After birth when they are exposed to the environment

Question 18

Which statement about the human microbiome is most accurate?

A) The composition of the microbiome is consistent between various body regions in the same person.
B) The composition of the microbiome is consistent between healthy adults.
C) The composition of the microbiome varies between body regions, but each region should be similar between individuals.
D) The composition of the microbiome varies greatly both between body regions and from one individual to the next.

Question 19

Small, hairlike projections on bacteria that allow them to attach to other cells and surfaces are called ____________________.

Question 20

Knowing how children form the foundation of their microbiomes, what can you conclude about children born by Caesarean section?

A) They would have a more robust microbiome because they did not have to endure the stress of a vaginal delivery.
B) They would have a more robust microbiome because their birth took place in an operating room under sanitary conditions.
C) They would have a weaker microbiome because they were not exposed to bacteria in the mother's vagina.
D) They would have a weaker microbiome because the mother would have received anesthesia.

Question 21

The protein shell surrounding the viral genetic material is called the ____________________.